Town boss Paul Jewell has revealed that the Blues have lodged bids for five players, three understood to be from Portsmouth. The pursuit of Pompey pair Jason Pearce and Joel Ward continues, with a third player also now targeted.

Jewell told the club site: “We are looking to improve the team and not just for this season but in seasons going on.

“We have offers in for five players. They are all players, young players, that are at an age that they can help take Ipswich Town on.

“We think the offers we have made are fair ones. Obviously we know the transfer deadline is approaching and we’d like to have some new faces here before the West Ham game but we will have to wait and see what happens.

“Signing a player now, any player, is so complicated — and so frustrating.”

The Blues are continuing to talk to Pompey about Pearce and Ward with the south coast side looking to raise cash to cover their unpaid PAYE bill.

A third Portsmouth player is being targeted with a bid for all three around the £2 million mark having been lodged since the second offer was turned down on Monday.

However, other clubs are also eyeing Portsmouth players and not every member of Michael Appleton's already very stretched squad will be for sale.

One of this morning’s tabloids links Fulham with a £500,000 move for Pompey’s 18-year-old Australian winger Ryan Williams, a player who would appear to very much fit the profile of the type of player Town are after. Keeper Stephen Henderson has also been mentioned as a Newcastle target in recent weeks.

The Blues appear to have given up the chase for 17-year-old Powell having had their initial bid turned down, Jewell admitting that one of his proposed deals is “dead”.

Claims of Town interest in Michael Owen and ex-Blue Titus Bramble are somewhat unlikely, while Sheffield United full-back Matt Lowton is not believed to be amongst the five, despite continuing links with the 22-year-old, who was previously mentioned in connection with the Blues back in September.

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

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